Location: Lahaina
Top Restaurants in Lahaina
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Where to Eat in Lahaina: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Lahaina, the former Hawaiian capital, was the center of the global whaling trade, and its Historic District is a National Historic Landmark. Traditional Hawaiian luaus, surf lessons and tours on horseback are fun, but let’s be realistic—you wouldn’t be in Hawaii if you didn’t want to go to the beach. Try Ka’anapali Beach, one of Maui’s best.
Things to do in Lahaina
1. Lahaina Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Open nightly from 5pm. Voted Best Maui Restaurant for 25 years in a row (1994-2018)! Featuring innovative, New American cuisine, Lahaina Grill uses techniques and flavors from around the world, all perfectly blended with the freshest ingredients cultivatedby Maui's local farms, dairies and surrounding waters.
Reviewed By Charles P - Redondo Beach, California
Having read the many rave reviews about this restaurant, I made reservations well in advance to have a special dinner on our first night on the island.
Located a short distance from Front Street on Lahainaluna Road, the Lahaina Grill is sadly bereft of any ocean or sunset views which are so popular with visitors.
Billed as “Steakhouse, American, Seafood” on TripAdvisor and a “Contemporary Bistro” on its own website, I was eager to inspect the menu. When I did, it was clear that the TripAdvisor description was inaccurate or obsolete.
The menu items are an odd (some might say eclectic) mix of French, Asian, Italian, Mexican, Scottish, American and locally inspired dishes, all with impressive price tags.
The wine and cocktail lists are certainly extensive and worthy of a first class establishment.
The decor is lovely, with walls tastefully adorned with paintings evoking the exoticness of the restaurant’s tropical venue. White table cloths and delicate stemware lend a touch of class. And the tables are not adorned with salt or pepper shakers. This is usually a sign that the chef seasons the cuisine to perfection.
However, low ceilings and a packed house makes for a very noisy ambiance that would likely rule this restaurant out for a quiet romantic dinner.
We ordered the ahi poke with a side of creamed spinach, Maui onion soup and a local lobster special, not on the menu.
The poke appetizer was nicely prepared and presented. And the portion was generous enough to be an entree. The tamari-ginger dressing was unusually good and the seaweed salad it was served over complimented this dish in flavor and texture.
The creamed spinach was prepared with cheese in a sauce that allow the fresh spinach flavor to shine through.
The Maui onion soup was descent enough but the portion of cheese on top was unusually small. And in a soup there is no particular advantage in using a Maui onion. Its mild and sweet character is best showcased in a salad.
The $98 lobster special was a disappointment. It was served on a plate loaded with an intimidating mound of puréed potatoes which covered a layer of sautéed spinach, all topped with two spears of asparagus and surrounded by the de-shelled lobster and a cream sauce.
The tail meat seemed unusually small in proportion to the claw meat which was a shame since it was far more succulent. And the dish cried out for a few pinches of sea salt, which should have been offered since the islands produce such excellent salts.
For dessert we decided on the “signature” tripple berry pie. It was beautifully presented with a crust that sparkled with crystals of sugar. However, when we dug in the “light flakey” crust was rather doughy and the berry filling dry and lacking a fresh berry flavor. I was reminded of berries found in the frozen food section of a grocery store. The best part of this dessert was the hand whipped cream base.
Service at the Lahaina Grill was enthusiastic and attentive.
For me, a good restaurant is one you want to return to. A great restaurant is one you want to visit a second time during your vacation. I left the Lahaina Grill without regretting my visit but without the slightest desire to return.
It is possible to have a good dinner there if you choose carefully or are lucky. But at a restaurant this expensive you shouldn’t have to depend on careful choices or luck.
2. Choice Health Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 315 reviews
Reviewed By Chocolvr - Townville, Pennsylvania
Their green drinks are energizing and they go down easy. Delicious, cold and locally bottled daily, save the glass bottles for two bucks off your next bottle! These healthy vegetable-and-fruit-based drinks are refreshing as well as healthy! A hidden gem, to be sure!
3. Paia Fish Market Restuarant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 853 reviews
Reviewed By Tano P - Carrollton, Georgia
Calamari good, shrimp app to much breading, fish taco great, hamburger good, side; slaw a bit to sour, fries great, rice need more seasoning, and dipping sauces was good. Service was very good. It is far better then some places on Front Street. Mahalo!
4. Gazebo Restaurant at Napili Shores
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By JDinNapa - California
Friends told us about Gazebo, and warned us about the wait; we were anxious to go. Right on the water with a great ambiance. Yep, we got there at 8:30 and there was a half-hour wait: so what. The place is hustling, but nice and tidy. Once we got seated, service was prompt and friendly. There are a host of menu items that you may not find elsewhere...discoveries are at hand!
Our breakfasts were very good, and we even got a side to take back to the condo. Will we be back? You bet! But early, as the line was at least an hour long when we left.
5. Cool Cat Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Simmonsfamily623 - Texas
Big selection of burgers, I had the jail house and husband had the Don Ho, both were huge and full of flavor . the order of fries is big enough to share. They have floats but we didn’t save any room for that.
6. Miso Phat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 629 reviews
Reviewed By Snert41 - Rochester, New York
So this was a return visit to Miso Phat in Lahaina, and we're delighted to say we enjoyed a delicious meal yet again. We've now also visited Sansei as a comparision. Sansei is all about ambiance: cloth table cloths, fancy lighting, more formal wait staff. Miso Phat is laid back, casual, high-top tables with stools and, in our opinion, has the best sushi. During this visit we enjoyed the 007 roll ($20), Caterpillar role ($20), miso soup ($2.50 each), Spicy Salmon Temaki ($8.50), an order of Tamago ($6), and an order of Unagi ($8) - all delicious, and we would reorder. Check totaled $85 before tax or tip. Miso Phat does not have a liquor license, but the staff suggests you BYOB, or you can walk two store fronts down the plaza they're in and buy your alcohol in the liquor store. This ambiance of enjoying sushi is more our style. Looking forward to a return visit during our next vacation.
7. LahainaLuna Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 472 reviews
Local food made gourmet... Lahainaluna Café uses only the best quality ingredients and fresh local Maui produce. All of our food is MADE TO ORDER and served fresh from the kitchen. From Asian fusion to local Hawaiian flavors, we provide an array of dishes sure to please any palate. Tucked away in the Lahaina Marketplace across the street from the Lahaina seaside, our outdoor cafe is always a breath of fresh air! We are dedicated to serving the community and providing warm friendly service with true ALOHA spirit. We look forward to serving you soon!
Reviewed By Elmarto - Quebec City, Canada
We came here based on the reviews and we were definitely not disappointed! The food was really good, from the fish tacos to the ceviche, and we had to come a second time during our week on Maui. Note that if you purchase a water bottle, they will refill it for free with ice water, so that's big plus in the Hawaiian heat. We also really enjoyed the outdoor thing going on. It's an outside counter, you order and you get your food right there on the public place. Some tables are spread around, so you can eat there or bring the food to the nearby beach. I definitely recommend.
8. ABC Stores
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 184 reviews
Reviewed By Ron A - Brooklyn, Iowa
The ABC stores are in most of the main tourist towns. They are fun to look through. As with Hawaiian tourist sports there are MANY tourist gift shops. But the ABC stores were clean and well stocked with T-shirts, snack foods, refreshments, and other Hawaiian gifts. And if you save your receipts there is a chance for a free gift with so much spent in other ABC stores--we got a very nice free turtle mug.
9. Fish Market Maui
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Benny C - Portland, Oregon
Ok, I don’t really want you to find this place. So I’m tempted (kidding) to give it a bad review. Can’t do that though, the people there are to pono.
It’s a restaurant and a fresh seafood store. Fresh as in you see people walking fish in the back door and mongers prepping it right away. I feel confident the fish I order, eat in or cook at home, was happily swimming in the ocean the day before. The service is quick, maybe rushed and can be curt but it’s always good. Yes, good service doesn’t have to be perfect but it needs to be real. That’s this place.
Order anything. If it’s s fish you like my bet is it’ll be better than the last 10 times you at the same.
10. 808 Grindz Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 544 reviews
Reviewed By ShanCTraveler - Lexington, Massachusetts
After waiting in line for about an hour, we finally made our way into this small seemingly family owned restaurant. The wait staff was apologetic about the long wait, but they commenced to make up for the delay with outstanding service. We ordered a variety of dishes including banana pancakes, rocky road to Hana pancakes, short rib loco moco, and breakfast croissant. All of the food was very tasty. The pancakes here definitely surpass the pancakes at the Gazebo in terms of taste because they are moist. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the special vanilla sauce. It reminded me of a watered down cream cheese frosting. I would recommend sticking with maple syrup. It’s tucked away in a strip
Mall in historic Lahaina. We were able to find street parking behind the strip mall.
